The Press Box

Genoa’s Michael Deiter getting look at the big time

The Toledo area is well represented on the Ohio State football team because of players like Ben St. John (Woodmore) and Jack Mewhort (St John’s Jesuit).

Starting in 2014 there may be another area athlete wearing the scarlet and gray. Michael Deiter, an offensive lineman from Genoa who is considering OSU, was invited to visit the Buckeyes spring practice last week at the Woody Hayes Center and then to the spring game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

With a “recruit” pass in hand, Deiter was able to see the big boys practice big time, up close. Deiter, a junior with one season on the prep gridiron remaining, last Fall he was voted second team All-Ohio defensive tackle and received Genoa’s “Top Defensive Lineman” award.

“Prior to arriving at Genoa, the two best linemen I ever coached were three-year starters in college. One of them “started for Urban Meyer at Bowling Green State University as a 17-year old nose tackle,” Genoa football coach Tim Spiess said. “The other was a three-year starter at Wake Forest and was an outstanding lineman in their bowl victory over Oregon.

“Michael Deiter has an opportunity to surpass everything those two players accomplished in college” Spiess added. “Michael is bigger (6-foot-5, 301 pounds), faster and stronger than both of those great players. His background in hockey, our weight room and the way we conduct our practices will give him an advantage over other incoming freshmen”.

Coach Spiess said that he has received phone calls and text messages from several other large BCS schools about Deiter. Deiter was invited to visit the University of Wisconsin soon after.

Spiess said that despite all of the attention, “What I am really proud of is how humble Michael has remained. No matter the number of offers; Michael has assured me his decision will come down to whichever BCS schools he likes as well as BGSU and the University of Toledo.

“Coach Campbell (UT) and Coach Clawson (BGSU) are such good outstanding coaches and they run top notch collegiate programs. Having these outstanding programs in our backyard is a real bonus. I have had a few MAC schools tell me they may not recruit Michael because they are not certain they can compete against the BCS powerhouses. Coach (Dave) Clawson and Coach (Matt) Campbell have taken the other road and the Deiters (family) really appreciate their efforts.” (— submitted by Harold Hamilton)

Reynolds wins International CupWoodmore junior Kathy Reynolds won a Gold Medal at the International Junior Cup karate tournament and finished third at the USA Open in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Reynolds competed in the -55 kilogram weight class at the International Junior Cup on March 29. She defeated her opponent in the finals by a score of 9-1. During five rounds of matches, Reynolds outscored her opponents, 28-2.

The International Junior Cup and USA Open are held back to back to give the athletes traveling to Las Vegas two of the largest karate competitions in North America in one weekend. The events were attended by elite karate competitors from 50 countries.

Reynolds also competed on Easter Sunday in the USA Open in the -59 KG division. After dominating the first three rounds, she lost a tough match to a Mexican competitor in the semifinal. Reynolds went on to win the bronze medal match with a score of 8-1.

Reynolds next competition will be at the Rocky Mountain State Championships in Louisville, Colorado.

**********A Taco Night Fundraiser will be held to benefit Lake Flyers U12 Baseball May 17 from 4-11 p.m. at the Millbury Fire Hall. Tickets are $15, which includes food and beverages. The event will also include a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction.